August 6, 2023

Living Letters of Christ

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
Service Type:

Introduction

Focusing on first 6 verses
This Bible gives word pictures that provide tremendous insight on how to preach the gospel

Fishers of men
Sowers of the seed
Ambassadors for Christ

Paul uses a different picture

2 Cor 2:14
We are the fragrance of Christ

The gospel is not in vain, since it is all of the above
2 Corinthians is not an easy letter

It shows insights into the Apostle Paul

He bears his heart in a way he doesn’t in any other letter

He had an intense relationship with the Corinthian Church
Paul had to defend himself

He was accused of being fickle
He had a persistent group of critics

Subject: ‘Living Letters of Christ’

This is painful for Paul – he has to defend himself

He is not peddling the word of God but of sincerity – 2 Cor 2:17

They accuse him of having no letter of commendation

Does he need one? – 2 Cor 11:22-23
He is an sower of the seed, and ambassador for Christ, the fragrance of Christ

Personal example
Paul has to remind the Corinthians they are living letters of Christ

Looking at 6 things:

Suspicion Countered

It is unhelpful to have suspicion in church fellowship

The Corinthians had an untrusting attitude towards Paul
3:1

Paul had a long and distinguished ministry among the Corinthians

Many were converts
Yet they wanted a letter of commendation
1 Cor 13:6-7
We are to judge with a warm spiritual attitude

Matt 7:1-3
Example of brother

Suspicion needs to be countered

The Corinthians are Paul’s letter of commendation

Superficiality Condemned

To have letters before the accept Paul

Letters of commendation are not bad in and of themselves

Rom 16:1-2

The Corinthians are the letters of commendation
We are to judge spiritually

John 7:24
Example from Church

Credentials Authenticated

The Corinthians are the letters of commendation / credentials

Example of believer
We are letters of the living God

Paul was their spiritual father

Example
They know Paul well enough because he was there from the beginning
The Corinthians are Paul’s testimonial
They owed Paul a debt

True ministry is seen in changed hearts and true spirituality

Testimony Established

v3-4
Paul’s credentials are seen in the people whose lives were touched by his ministry

Not written in ink by the Holy Spirit

Paul has worked by the Spirit of the Living God

The people have been changed
To see my ministry – look in the mirror!

It is a sad situation when one Christian refuses to accept another Christian

Personal example
Are we thankful for the ministry of others?

Ability Acknowledged

Paul is not puffed up – his trust is in God

What happened in Corinth – was a movement of God
Paul was an instrument but God was the true cause

He had no ability in himself – the gifts and graces were from God

v6 – his sufficiency was from God
True of every Christian – our sufficiency is from God
Phil 4:13

We have to be careful about self coming to the fore

Personal example
We are insufficient in ourselves
It is encouraging that our sufficiency is from God

Contrasts Drawn

The Spirit has made us sufficient (v6)

The law kills
The gospel brings life in Christ

They are to show this life and express the joy of being letters from Christ

So are we